The Edmonton Oilers have finally fired Lowe. No, not Kevin Lowe; his brother, trainer Ken Lowe, along with equipment men Barrie Stafford and Lyle “Sparky” Kulchisky. After decades of work with the team, all three are now unemployed.

This has been the best first round of NHL playoffs that I can remember. We’ve already seen one upset, Flyers (although I said I should pick them, but stupidly didn’t), the Bruins are one win away from another one, while the Predators, Avalanche, Senators and Coyotes aren’t going away quietly. And the most physical and entertaining series has been the Canucks/Kings, and I fully expect them to go seven games.

If Craig Heisinger can go from sharpening skates and ordering shoulder pads as equipment manager of the Winnipeg Jets to running one of the most successful franchises in the AHL as GM of the Manitoba Moose, anything is possible.

We have to admit that we were a bit surprised when the news hit the wire that Oilers VP of Hockey Operations and Assistant GM Kevin Prendergast has been relieved of his command - a short time after the Oilers had finished 30th in the league and waddled off into the offseason.